Last year, Danilo Di Luca could only watch as rival Davide Rebellin inched away to victory on the Huy climb at the end of Flèche Wallone.

Fresh off his victory in Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race, Liquigas-Bianchi rider starts Wednesday’s race as one of the favorites but Di Luca said he’s prefer to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège instead.

“I won’t look for the victory at all costs. If I happened to be in good position in the final, I will fight,” Di Luca said. “The Flèche’s route is very suitable for me, but I confirm that Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the race I like the more.”

Liquigas-Bianchi will come to the line with Franco Pellizotti as their second card to play. The wild-haired Italian won Coppi e Bartali earlier this season and has been riding strong since Paris-Nice.

“I think that Danilo is the favorite rider,” Pellizotti said. “He is in great condition, both physically and psychologically, and last year he has already demonstrated how suitable this race is for him.”

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Cunego on the hunt in the Ardennes
While all eyes are on the Di Luca-Rebellin rivalry, defending Giro d’Italia champion Damiano Cunego could well be the wild card in the Ardennes. After skipping Amstel Gold, the Lampre-Caffita rider is ready to make a run for Flèche and Liège.

“The form is good. As far as the two races are concerned, I prefer Liège to Flèche,” Cunego said. “I want to be a protagonist, but Di Luca is the big favorite for me. What he did at Amstel Gold didn’t surprise me. You saw since the Basque Country that he’s strong.”

After Liège, Cunego will race the Tour de Romandie in his final warm-up for the Giro. Vicioso wants to shake bad luck
Most are looking to Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) as Spain’s top hope in the Ardennes, but Angel Vicioso and the Liberty Seguros team are anxious to prove they can shine in the classics.

Vicioso was in contention to contest for Amstel Gold Race, but flatted late to derail his chances for a run at Danilo Di Luca. Also lining up for Liberty Seguros will be favorites David Etxebarria and Jörg Jaksche.

“I’ve raced Flèche three times, but the Huy wall maybe is worse for me than the Cauberg, because it is harder enough and, besides, there are more difficulties to place because the road is much narrower,” Vicioso said. “At Amstel, on the other hand, the finish was perfect for me. Without a doubt Di Luca was the strongest. When he went on three could go with him, Rebellin, Boogerd and me.”